Similar Events

Additional Information

Life moves pretty fast, and Devonte Hynes keeps busy. The ten tracks on Coastal Grooves cement his triumphant solo return this summer – as Blood Orange – to the world of popular music. Here, in an already long and bogglingly varied career, is the most exciting selection of songs that this celebrated polymath has ever assembled. Dev moves pretty fast, and Blood Orange gets busy. Following the huge acclaim for his previous incarnation, the Houston-born, Essex-raised, 25 year-old indie bratpack posterboy Artist Formerly Known as Lightspeed Champion has completely lost his voice and crashed out of the scene spectacularly. He’s taken time out, had major surgery, not spoken a word for two months, disbanded his band, played in a bunch of new ones, re-learned to talk, re-learned to sing, struck out solo and lived and loved in London, New York and Los Angeles (mostly New York). Throughout these Fast Times at Devonte High, one thing has remained constant: he’s been writing an absolute shitload of amazing songs. Though he’s increasingly in demand as a songwriter and producer, it’s one-man DIY project Blood Orange that has grown to be his one true love. “You’re always your own best critic,” says Dev, “so if you like it, then you must be doing something right. It took me a long time to get to this point, and now that I’ve got here, I’m really kind of relaxed about it all. I’m so content with the music I’ve done, because I know I like it, and I’m down with it.” It is difficult not to be down with the sultry and infectious teen-dreamy pop sound of Dev’s new direction in writing. Blood Orange songs are subtly layered, stripped-down, bedroomy-sounding electronic compositions. They thread a heartstring-tugging line from the angst and urgency of new wave, through eighties power-pop, to the bounce and sex of American swing and R&B. There’s a palpable new obsession with oriental melodies, much technical electric guitar shredding, and on top of it all, Dev’s gobsmacking new vocal style. He’s gone from ‘guy-singing-in-a-band’ to ‘virtuoso-soul-crooner-who-sounds-like-Prince’s-edgier-little-sister.’ The result is intoxicating and addictive; a moody and atmospheric pop alchemy that’s as at home on the nightclub dancefloor as it is on the nightbus comedown. Over a year ago, when Blood Orange was still in its infancy, Dev was referring to it as his “slightly disco Chris Isaak oriental thing.” That’s basically what it still is.